I am a planner. Actually, I am a prepper. Not the type that are preparing for disaster, but the type of person that doesn’t like to wait until the last minute to get things done.

In college I never did an all nighter, because I would prep beforehand. In preparation for company I will cook as much as I can and set the table the day before. If I am going to be speaking I start planning as soon as I get the invitation.

I do all this because I can’t stand the stress feeling that comes with the last minute panic. Honestly, my motive is an attempt to keep myself peaceful throughout an otherwise stressful situation.

But the Lord’s ways are different than my ways. I don’t need to stop being a prepper, but I do need to acknowledge that that is not where my peace comes from.

Eph. 6:15 “and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

In other words, my peace doesn’t come from being ready—but my being ready comes from God’s peace given from His Word.

The truth is, all the preparation in the world doesn’t trump knowing God and being in tune with His Spirit. If I ace a test, serve a five star meal, or speak with great eloquence it means nothing without God’s love and wisdom guiding me.

Readiness comes from the gospel of peace, I will never be ready until I put the Gospel into the center of my life. And when the Gospel is my motivation then I have peace despite failure, persecution, rejection, or success, acceptance or embrace.

“The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.” Psalm 118:7

My helper?!

In this world a helper is lower than who they help. The helper has a boss. I am not God’s boss! Ever.

The cool thing is that God is my boss AND my helper.If my worldly boss told me to do something and then helped me do it---I would be confident that my actions were right, good and what he wanted.

So it is with God—when He tells me something in His Word, His Holy Spirit helps me obey how God intended.

God has even a stronger relationship with us than as a boss. He is our Father. He genuinely cares for us, not just for our service to benefit His business. He desires to benefit us by pushing us toward being who He created us to be. He created us to know Him and out of a heart to know Him everything else comes into place.

Although we are not perfect parents, this is played out in our relationship with our children too. We cannot just play the role of boss, we must be their helper too. But a helper does NOT do things for a child, but rather guides him so he can do what is asked of him.

Sometimes guidance can look very hands on, perhaps even with our arms wrapped around them helping them to do a new or difficult task.

Often times guidance will be verbally walking through a process step by step.

At times guidance will be after a failure reviewing what needs changing.

Other times guidance will be hard, perhaps including discipline.

More times guidance will be encouragement to keep going and not quit.

As children mature, guidance will be discussion, asking of questions to help them think through what is best, without any specific action steps given—decisions are left to the child.

I don’t know about you, but this helps me grasp my relationship with God more too. When I first trusted the Lord He was so near, everything spoke to me; He wrapped His arms around me. Now days, I ask and wait and often hear silence. But, as I read the Word I begin to hear Him pointing out different ways of looking at a situation and leaving it to me to act based on that. Perhaps I am maturing.

We have the best Boss ever! And “The Lord is with me; He is my helper.”

There has been a quote flying around our house lately. It is meant to be a reminder, an encouragement. Although we all need to hear it, it seems to hit us ladies the hardest. We all agree with the quote but whoever needs the reminder doesn’t always embrace it right away. The Bible even says something similar, yet we struggle.

The quote is: Don’t believe everything you think.

Just because I think my husband is being mean, doesn’t mean he is.

Just because I think my child is being lazy, doesn’t mean she is.

Just because I think my friend doesn’t care, doesn’t mean she doesn’t.

Just because I think my neighbor snubbed me, doesn’t mean he did.

Just because I think I am dumb, fat, lazy, ugly, unskilled…, doesn’t mean I am.

Like the Bible says, “Don’t be wise in your own eyes.” (Prov. 3:7) Seek truth; don’t settle for unsound lies that drag you down. Believe the best and any error is an error in love. Trust the Lord to avenge, don’t be afraid of being wronged. Overlook an offense and seek peace.

Especially when it comes to those closest to us, do not believe those negative thoughts. Our loved ones do not want to purposefully hurt us. Ask them clarifying questions if your interpretation is feeling negative. Believe them and not your own thinking when they say they didn’t mean a comment negatively. The reward is unity.

Who would want to divide us? Not the Lord. The evil one is keen on dividing and destroying our relationships. Fight him, not your loved ones.

When it comes to lying to ourselves…Don’t believe everything you think. God has made us in His image. He lives in us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are not perfect, but we are perfectly loved.

The Lord tells us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13.It is Satan’s lie that says, “I can’t.” It is through lying to us that he holds us back from what the Lord has for us to do.

“Casting down imaginations”(II Cor. 10:5) sounds a lot like, “Don’t believe everything you think.” “Be alert, the devil is prowling around like lion seeking someone to devour.” (I Peter 5:8) Resist him where all sin starts, in the mind, by not believing everything you think!

Yep, you read that title right. I have a word of encouragement for you today and it is discipline.

I read this concept today in Hebrews 12: 5-6 "And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son."

Discipline is part of teaching and training, but it is not earning love or position. All the love is already there and the position of child is already there!! Discipline is an expression of love. This is true in my family and in God's.

Because we love our children we discipline them.

Hebrews 12: 7 "It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons."